Led lighting device

ABSTRACT

This LED lighting device makes a maximum current to minimum current flowing in an LED a target proportion regardless of LED driving circuit performance and without erroneous operation. An LED lighting device ( 1 ) is provided with: an LED circuit ( 5 ) that includes at least one LED ( 1 - 5 ); a bypass means ( 6   a ) inserted in parallel with the LEDs ( 1 - 5 ); and an LED driving circuit ( 4 ) that supplies current by duty control to the LEDs ( 1 - 5 ) and the bypass means ( 6   a ). When a prescribed minimum current flows in the LED circuit ( 5 ), the LED driving circuit ( 4 ) supplies current in which a portion of current flowing in the bypass means ( 6   a ) is added to this minimum current and carries out control of the added current by a switching element (TR 1 ) connected in series to the LED circuit ( 5 ) and the bypass means ( 6   a ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an LED lighting device and, more particularly, to an LED lighting device to turn on a light emitting diode (LED) used in a backlight light source of a liquid crystal displaying apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various manufacturers have put on the market liquid crystal displaying apparatuses each using light emitting diodes (LED) as its backlight light source. The LED is a semiconductor element that emits light when a voltage is applied thereto in the forward direction thereof. When a positive voltage and a negative voltage are respectively applied to the anode and the cathode of the LED, a current flows in the LED at a voltage of several volts and the LED emits light. Control of turning on and off of, and control of the brightness of the backlight are enabled for each area by using the LEDs as the backlight light source and, therefore, the contrast can significantly be improved. The LED has a longer life and needs a smaller power consumption than those of a traditional fluorescent tube and, therefore, has an advantage of a higher energy-saving effect than that thereof.

When the LEDs are used as a backlight light source especially of a large-screen display, electric currents need to be supplied to many LEDs and, therefore, feedback control is executed to keep the current flowing in each of the LEDs constant (current feedback) using the LED power source as a switching power source (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the configuration of a traditional LED lighting device and “100” therein denotes the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device 100 includes a converter circuit 2 including a switching power source 3, an LED driver 4 to drive LEDs (1 to 5) of an LED circuit 5, and the LED circuit 5 including the plural LEDs (1 to 5). The LED driver 4 is mounted as an integrated circuit (IC) chip including a known microcomputer and peripheral circuits. An output of a signal from the LED driver 4 to an external circuit is controlled by the microcomputer.

The LED driver 4 receives a dimming control signal from a main control portion (not depicted) to control a dimming duty ratio to a predetermined dimming duty ratio. The LED driver 4 outputs a duty signal based on the dimming duty ratio from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, controls a start of the operation and discontinuation of the operation of the switching power source 3, and causes the switching power source 3 to generate a voltage V1 corresponding to the dimming duty ratio. The LED driver 4: causes a switching element TR1 inserted between the LED circuit 5 and a ground line GND to be driven for switching based on the duty signal; causes the voltage V1 to continuously be applied to the LED circuit 5; and, thereby, causes the LEDs (1 to 5) to be turned on. The switching element TR1 is composed of, for example, a field effect transistor (FET).

The converter circuit 2 generates the voltage V1 to turn on the LEDs (1 to 5) included in the LED circuit 5 based, for example, on a reference voltage V generated from the power source voltage (+B) such as a battery. Though the converter circuit 2 is configured as a what-is-called step-down converter including a capacitor C, the converter circuit 2 may be of any one of a step-down, a step-up, and a step-up-and-down types.

The LED circuit 5 includes one or more LEDs. In the depicted example, the LED circuit 5 includes five LEDs of LEDs (1 to 5). An electric current i flowing in the LED circuit 5 is converted from a current to a voltage by a current detection resistor R1 and the voltage is input into a current detection terminal of the LED driver 4. The LED driver 4 outputs the value of the voltage input into the current detection terminal from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, and causes the converter circuit 2 to drive the LEDs (1 to 5) each with a constant current.

The image quality of recent liquid crystal displaying apparatuses is increasingly improved and a demand is present that the contrast ratio is increased as much as possible, to acquire clearer image quality. When LEDs are used as the backlight, the contrast ratio is determined based on the ratio of the maximal luminance and the minimal luminance of the LEDs. An increase of the contrast ratio is equivalent to an increase of the ratio of the maximal current: (the rated current) and the minimal current that flow in the LEDs.

The current flowing in the LEDs is determined by a current supplied by the LED driver as described with reference to FIG. 7. The manufacturers of the liquid crystal displaying apparatuses each set target ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs, to realize the desired contrast ratio. For example, the target ratio is set to be 2000:1. For example, when the maximal current supplied by the LED driver is 250 mA, the target value of the minimal current is 0.125 mA.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.     2009-238633

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

Two methods are traditionally used to realize the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (hereinafter, referred to as “LED minimal current”). A method is present as the first method according to which a main control portion adjusts a dimming control signal (the dimming duty) and the LED driver generates the LED minimal current based on the dimming duty after the adjustment. However, in this case, the main control portion needs to execute complicated signal adjustment, and a problem arises that the performance of the LED driver, that is, the range of the dimming duty that the LED driver can handle restricts the LED minimal current. This will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the relation between the current flowing in the LED and the dimming duty. The axis of ordinate therein represents the current flowing in the LED (unit: mA) and the axis of abscissa therein represents the dimming duty (%). A graph L1 shows the correspondence relation between the dimming duty and the current flowing in the LED (that is, the current supplied by the LED driver). As depicted in FIG. 8, when the dimming duty is equal to or lower than 0.1% (in FIG. 8, in a range indicated by “X”), it can be seen that: the operation is not guaranteed due to the performance of the LED driver; and, therefore, the target 0.125 mA cannot be achieved. With this performance of the LED driver, when the dimming duty is 0.1%, the current flowing in the LED (the minimal current) is 0.200 mA and, therefore, the target 0.125 mA cannot be achieved.

Another method is present as the second method according to which an external circuit of the LED driver realizes the LED minimal current. However, in this case, the LED driver is caused to discontinue its operation and the external circuit generates the LED minimal current and, therefore, the LED driver may malfunction when the LED driver recovers its operation. For example, when the LED driver whose operation is discontinued is caused to precipitously recover its operation, the LED voltage is increased. Therefore, this increase of the LED voltage is mistakenly detected as an excess voltage error.

According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, though a bypassing means is inserted in parallel to the LED circuit: this aims at reducing the time period necessary for the LED to be turned on; this is adapted to prevent turning on of the LED by supplying electric power to the bypassing means when the switching power source is driven with a pre-duty ratio; and this is also adapted to prevent the bypassing means from operating by supplying electric power to the LED when the switching power source is driven with the dimming duty ratio. Therefore, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current caused to flow in the LED cannot be set to be the target ratio to acquire the desired contrast ratio.

The present invention was conceived in view of the above circumstances and an object thereof is to provide an LED lighting device that can set the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current caused to flow in the LED to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver and without any malfunctioning thereof.

Means for Solving the Problem

To solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention is an LED lighting device comprising: an LED circuit that comprises at least one LED; a bypassing means that is inserted in parallel to the LED circuit; and an LED driver that supplies a current to each of the LED circuit and the bypassing means, wherein when a predetermined minimal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the LED driver supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing means to the predetermined minimal current, and wherein the current acquired by the addition is controlled by a switching means connected in series to the LED circuit and the bypassing means.

A second technical means is the LED lighting device of the first technical means, wherein when a predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the LED driver supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing means to the predetermined maximal current.

A third technical means is the LED lighting device of the first or the second technical means, wherein the bypassing means is a resistor.

A fourth technical means is the LED lighting device of the first technical means, wherein the bypassing means comprises at least one bypass line having therein a resistor and another switching means connected in series to each other, and wherein when the predetermined minimal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the other switching means is caused to operate and the LED driver supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing means to the predetermined minimal current.

A fifth technical means is the LED lighting device of the fourth technical means, wherein when a predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the other switching means is caused to stop operation and the LED driver supplies the predetermined maximal current.

A sixth technical means is the LED lighting device of the fourth or the fifth technical means, wherein the bypassing means comprises the plurality of bypass lines connected in parallel to each other.

A seventh technical means is the LED lighting device of the first technical means, wherein the bypassing means comprises a semiconductor element, and wherein when the predetermined minimal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the semiconductor element is caused to operate and the LED driver supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing means to the predetermined minimal current.

An eighth technical means is the LED lighting device of the seventh technical means, wherein when the predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the semiconductor element is caused to stop operation and the LED driver supplies the predetermined maximal current.

A ninth technical means is the LED lighting device of the seventh or the eighth technical means, wherein the semiconductor element is a field-effect transistor, and wherein the current to flow in the bypassing means is controlled by controlling a gate-source voltage of the field-effect transistor.

A tenth technical means is the LED lighting device of any one of the first to the ninth technical means, wherein

the predetermined maximal and the predetermined minimal currents to be caused to flow in the LED circuit have a predetermined ratio.

An eleventh technical means is the LED lighting device of any one of the first to the tenth technical means, wherein the LED driver supplies a current through duty control.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, a bypassing means is inserted in parallel to an LED and, thereby, the current supplied by the LED driver can be branched to the bypassing means such that the current caused to flow in the LED becomes the target minimal current. Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current caused to flow in the LED can be set to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver and without any malfunctioning of the LED driver because the operation thereof is not discontinued.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a correspondence relation between a current flowing in the LED and a dimming duty.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another example of the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LED and the dimming duty.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of a control function expressing the relation between a gate-source voltage and a current of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a configuration of a traditional LED lighting device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the relation between the current flowing in the LED and the dimming duty.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments will be described according to an LED lighting device of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. For example, the LED) lighting device is incorporated in a liquid crystal displaying apparatus using LEDs as its backlight light source and executes lighting control of the LEDs.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, “1 a” denotes the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device 1 a differs from the LED lighting device 100 described as above with reference to FIG. 7 in that the LED lighting device 1 a includes a bypassing means 6 a inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5. In FIG. 1, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the components depicted in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those thereof. An exemplary operation of the LED lighting device 1 a will briefly be described.

As above, the LED driver 4 receives the dimming control signal to control the dimming duty ratio to the predetermined dimming duty ratio, from the main control portion (not depicted). The LED driver 4 outputs the duty signal based on the dimming duty ratio from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3, and causes the switching power source 3 to generate the voltage V1 corresponding to the dimming duty ratio. The LED driver 4 causes the switching element TR1 (corresponding to a switching means) inserted between the LED circuit 5 and the ground line GND to be driven for switching based on the duty signal, causes the voltage V1 to continuously be applied to the LED circuit 5, and causes the LEDs (1 to 5) to be turned on. The switching element TR1 is composed of, for example, a field effect transistor (FET).

The converter circuit 2 generates the voltage V1 to turn on the LEDs (1 to 5) included in the LED circuit 5 based, for example, on the reference voltage V generated from the power source voltage (+B) such as a battery. Though the converter circuit 2 is configured as a what-is-called step-down converter including a capacitor C, the converter circuit 2 may be of any one of a step-down, a step-up, and a step-up-and-down types.

The LED circuit 5 includes at least one LED. In the depicted example, the LED circuit 5 includes the five LEDs of LEDs (1 to 5). The electric current i acquired by adding an electric current i_(LED) flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) to an electric current i_(R) flowing in the bypassing means 6 a is converted from a current into a voltage by the current detection resistor R1 and this voltage is input into the current detection terminal of the LED driver 4. The LED driver 4 outputs the value of the voltage input into the current detection terminal from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, and causes the converter circuit 2 to drive the LEDs (1 to 5) each with a constant current.

A primary object of the present invention is to set the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs, to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver and without any malfunctioning thereof. The LED lighting device 1 a includes, as the configuration to achieve the object, the LED circuit 5 including the LEDs (1 to 5), the bypassing means 6 a inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5, and the LED driver 4 to supply an electric current to each of the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 a based, for example, on the duty control. When the LED driver 4 causes a predetermined minimal current to flow in the LED circuit 5, the LED driver 4 supplies an electric current acquired by adding the current to be caused to flow in the bypassing means 6 a to this minimal current. The electric current acquired by the addition is control led by the switching element TR1 connected in series to the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 a.

The current supplied by the LED driver 4 is branched to the bypassing means 6 a such that the value of the current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target value that is the value of the minimal current acquired when the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes predetermined ratio (also referred to as “target ratio”). The target ratio only has to be determined corresponding to the contrast ratio desired to be realized, the specification of the LED, etc., and is not especially limited while the target ratio may be, for example, 2000:1.

In the above, the LED driver 4 controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3 based on the externally-input dimming control signal (the dimming duty ratio), and supplies the current i based on the voltage V1 that corresponds to the dimming duty ratio. The current i is branched at the connection point of the LEDs (1 to 5) and a resistor R2. The currents i_(LED) and i_(R) respectively flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the resistor R2. In this example, the case where the LED driver 4 supplies the current based on the duty control is exemplified and described. However, not limited to this duty control, the same control can be executed even in the case, for example, where current control is applied.

In this example, the resistor R2 is inserted in parallel to the LEDs (1 to 5) as an example of the bypassing means 6 a. The bypassing means 6 a is not limited to the resistor R2 but may be an element having an impedance component and, for example, a thermistor or a transistor may be used.

In FIG. 1, the case is assumed, for example, where the target ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) is 2000:1 and the maximal current (the rated current) is 250 mA. In this case, the target value of the minimal current is 0.125 mA. As to the performance of the LED driver 4 in this example, as depicted in FIG. 8, the operation thereof is not guaranteed when the dimming duty is equal to or lower than 0.1%, and 0.200 mA is supplied to the LEDs (1 to 5) when the dimming duty is, for example, 0.1%. With this performance of the LED driver 4, the target value of the minimal current that is 0.125 mA cannot be achieved.

In contrast, according to the circuit configuration of this embodiment, the resistor R2 is inserted in parallel to the LEDs (1 to 5). Representing the current output from the LED driver 4 as “i”, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) as “i_(LED)”, and the current flowing in the resistor R2 as “i_(R)”, an equation as below holds.

i=i _(LED) +i _(R)  Eq. (1)

In Eq. (1) above, assuming that i is i=0.200 mA and i_(LED) is i_(LED)=0.125 mA, the current i_(R) to flow in the resistor R2 is 0.075 mA. Based on this, the resistance value of the resistor R2 can be acquired from V1/i_(R). The voltage V1 is the voltage applied across the resistor R2 (and the LED circuit 5) and is known. In this manner, of the current i (=0.200 mA) supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(R) (=0.075 mA) can be branched to the resistor R2 and, therefore, the target minimal current i_(LED) (=0.125 mA) can be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5).

When the LED driver 4 causes the maximal current (for example, 250 mA) to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), the LED driver 4 only has to supply a current acquired by adding the current i_(R) to be caused to flow in the resistor R2, to the maximal current. The resistance value of the resistor R2 can be determined from the above. In the circuit configuration including the resistor R2, a voltage V1′ is determined in advance that is necessary for causing the maximal current (250 mA) to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) (the dimming duty ratio). The current i_(R) can be determined from the resistor R2 and the voltage V1′. Thereby, of the current i (=(250+i_(R)) mA) supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(R) is branched to the resistor R2 and the target maximal current i_(LED) (=250 mA) flows in the LEDs (1 to 5).

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs and the dimming duty. In FIG. 2, the axis of ordinate represents the current (unit: mA) flowing in the LEDs and the axis of abscissa represents the dimming duty (%). The graph L1 is the same as that for the traditional case described above with reference to FIG. 8. A graph L2 shows the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the dimming duty in the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and is acquired by shifting the graph L1 to be lower by the amount of the current i_(R). According to the circuit configuration of this embodiment, as above, of the current i supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(R) can be branched to the resistor R2. Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current of the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio (for example, 2000:1).

As above, according to this embodiment, the insertion of the bypassing means 6 a in parallel to the LEDs (1 to 5) enables the current i supplied by the LED driver 4 to be branched to the bypassing means 6 a such that the current: i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target minimal current. Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver 4 and without any malfunctioning of the LED driver 4 because the operation thereof is not discontinued.

When the resistor R2 is used as the bypassing means 6 a, the resistor R2 also functions as a discharge resistance for an abnormal situation and, therefore, the circuit can be protected and the safety can be secured of the LED lighting device 1 a or the liquid crystal displaying apparatus incorporating therein the LED lighting device 1 a.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, “1 b” denotes the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device 1 b differs from the LED lighting device 100 described above with reference to FIG. 7 in that the LED lighting device 1 b includes a bypassing means 6 b inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5 and a control circuit 7 that controls turning on and off of the bypassing means 6 b. In FIG. 3, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the components depicted in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those thereof. An exemplary operation of the LED lighting device 1 b will briefly be described.

As above, the LED driver 4 receives the dimming control signal to control the dimming duty ratio to the predetermined dimming duty ratio, from the main control portion (not depicted). The LED driver 4 outputs the duty signal based on the dimming duty ratio from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3, and causes the switching power source 3 to generate the voltage V1 corresponding to the dimming duty ratio. The LED driver 4 causes the switching element TR1 (corresponding to the switching means) inserted between the LED circuit 5 and the ground line GND to be driven for switching based on the duty signal, causes the voltage V1 to continuously be applied to the LED circuit 5, and causes the LEDs (1 to 5) to be turned on. The switching element TR1 is composed of, for example, a field effect transistor (FET).

The converter circuit 2 generates the voltage V1 to turn on the LEDs (1 to 5) included in the LED circuit 5 based, for example, on the reference voltage V generated from the power source voltage (+B) such as a battery. Though the converter circuit 2 is configured as a what-is-called step-down converter including the capacitor C, the converter circuit 2 may be of any one of a step-down, a step-up, and a step-up-and-down types.

The LED circuit 5 includes at least one LED. In the depicted example, the LED circuit 5 includes the five LEDs of LEDs (1 to 5). The current i acquired by adding an electric current i_(LED) flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) to an electric current i_(R) flowing in the bypassing means 6 b is converted from a current into a voltage by the current detection resistor R1 and this voltage is input into the current detection terminal of the LED driver 4. The LED driver 4 outputs the value of the voltage input into the current detection terminal from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, and causes the converter circuit 2 to drive the LEDs (1 to 5) each with a constant current.

The LED lighting device 1 b of this embodiment includes the LED circuit 5 including the LEDs (1 to 5), the bypassing means 6 b inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5, and the LED driver 4 that supplies a current to the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 b based, for example, on the duty control. When the LED driver 4 causes a predetermined minimal current to flow in the LED circuit 5, the LED driver 4 supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing means 6 b to this minimal current. The current acquired by the addition is controlled by the switching element TR1 connected in series to the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 b.

The current supplied by the LED driver 4 is branched to the bypassing means 6 b such that the value of the current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target value that is the value of the minimal current acquired when the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) become predetermined ratio (also referred to as “target ratio”). The target ratio only has to be determined corresponding to the contrast ratio desired to be realized, the specification of the LED, etc., and is not especially limited while the target ratio may be, for example, 2000:1.

In the above, the LED driver 4 controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3 based on the externally-input dimming control signal (the dimming duty ratio), and supplies the current i based on the voltage V1 that corresponds to the dimming duty ratio. The current i is branched at the connection point of the LEDs (1 to 5) and the bypassing means 6 b. The currents i_(LED) and i_(R) respectively flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the bypassing means 6 b. In this example, the case where the LED driver 4 supplies the current based on the duty control is exemplified and described. However, not limited to this duty control, the same control can be executed even in the case, for example, where current control is applied.

An exemplary configuration of the bypassing means 6 b will be described. The bypassing means 6 b includes at least one bypass line having therein a resistor and a switching element connected to each other in series. In the example of FIG. 3, the bypassing means 6 b: includes a bypass line having therein a resistor R_(A) and a switching element T_(A) connected to each other in series, a bypass line having therein a resistor R_(B) and a switching element T_(B) connected to each other in series, and a bypass line having therein a resistor R_(C) and a switching element T_(C) connected to each other in series; and has therein these three bypass lines connected in parallel to each other. The switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) each correspond to another switching means, and are each composed of, for example, an field-effect transistor (FET) or, more preferably, a metal-oxide-semiconductor filed-effect transistor (MOSFET).

Representing the current output from the LED driver 4 as “i”, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) as “i_(LED)”, a current flowing in the bypassing means 6 b as “i_(R)”, a current flowing in the bypass line including the resistor R_(A) as “i_(A)”, a current flowing in the bypass line including the resistor R_(B) as “i_(B)”, and a current flowing in the bypass line including the resistor R_(C) as “i_(C)”, an equation as below holds.

i=i _(LED) +i _(R), where i _(R) =i _(A) i _(B) +i _(C)  Eq. (2)

The control circuit 7 is connected to the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) and controls turning on and off (operation and discontinuation of the operation) of each of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C). For example, when all of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) are turned on, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is acquired as i_(LED)=i−(i_(A)+i_(B)+i_(C)) from Eq. (2). Similarly, when the switching element T_(A) is turned off and the switching elements T_(B) and T_(C) are turned on, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is acquired as i_(LED)=i−(i_(B)+i_(C)). When the switching elements T_(A) and T_(B) are turned off and the switching element T_(C) is turned on, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is acquired as i_(LED)=i−i_(C). When all of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) are turned off, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is acquired as i_(LED)=i.

In FIG. 3, the case is assumed, for example, where the target ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) is 2000:1 and the maximal current (the rated current) is 250 mA. In this case, the target value of the minimal current is 0.125 mA. When the minimal current is caused to flow, it is assumed, for example, that control is executed to turn off the switching elements T_(A) and T_(B) and to turn on the switching element TC. When the minimal current is caused to flow, the relation i_(LED)=i−i_(C) holds. As depicted in FIG. 8, as to the performance of the LED driver 4 in this example, the operation is not guaranteed when the dimming duty is equal to or lower than 0.1%, and 0.200 mA is supplied to the LEDs (1 to 5) when the dimming duty is, for example, 0.1%. With this performance of the LED driver 4, the target value of the minimal current that is 0.125 mA cannot be achieved.

Assuming that i and i_(LED) are i=0.200 mA and i_(LED)=0.125 mA in Eq. (2) above, the current i_(C) to flow in the resistor R_(C) is 0.075 mA. Based on this, the resistance value of the resistor R_(C) can be acquired from V1/i_(C). The voltage V1 is the voltage applied across the resistor R_(C) (and the LED circuit 5) and is known. In this manner, of the current i (=0.200 mA) supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(C) (=0.075 mA) can be branched to the resistor R_(C) by executing the control to turn on only the switching element T_(C). Therefore, the target minimal current i_(LED) (=0.125 mA) can be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5).

In the above example, the minimal current is adapted to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) by executing the control to turn off the switching elements T_(A) and T_(B) and to turn on the switching element T_(C). However, the minimal current may be adapted to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) by executing control to turn on any one or more of the switching elements T_(A), T_(B), and T_(C).

When the maximal current (for example, 250 mA) is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), control is executed to turn off all of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C). No current flows in the resistors R_(A) to R_(C) and, therefore, the relation i_(LED)=i holds. Therefore, the LED driver 4 only has to supply the maximal current as it is. Thereby, the target maximal current i_(LED) (=250 mA) flows in the LEDs (1 to 5).

When the bypassing means 6 b is composed only of the resistors, a current always flows in the bypassing means 6 b. Therefore, even when the maximal current is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), the LED driver 4 needs to supply a current acquired by adding a current to be supplied to the bypassing means 6 b to the maximal current and, the added current is lost. In contrast, in this embodiment, the bypassing means 6 b is composed of the resistors and the switching elements. Therefore, when the maximal current is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), no current can be caused to flow in the resistors by turning off the switching elements. Thereby, the LED driver 4 only has to supply the maximal current as it is and, therefore, the above loss does not occur.

The correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs and the dimming duty will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The graph L1 is the same as that for the traditional case described above with reference to FIG. 8. A graph L2 shows the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the dimming duty in the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and is acquired by shifting the graph L1 to be lower by the amount of the current i_(R) (in this example, i_(R)=i_(C)). According to the circuit configuration of this embodiment, as above, of the current i supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(C) can be branched to the resistor R_(c). Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current of the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio (for example, 2000:1).

Another example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3 described above. In this example, it is assumed in the ordinary state that the maximal current of the current i_(LED) flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is, for example, 200 mA and the minimal current controllable by the LED driver 4 is, for example, 1 mA. It is also assumed in this example that V₁, R_(A), R_(B), and R_(C) are V1=100 V, R_(A)=110 kΩ, R_(B)=2 MΩ, and R_(C)=2.5 MΩ.

(1) When all of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) are turned off, the maximal current is 200 mA and the minimal current is 1 mA and, therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current is 200 mA:1 mA=200:1. (2) When the switching element T_(A) is turned on and the switching elements T_(B) and T_(C) are turned off, the maximal current is 200 mA and the minimal current is acquired as below.

1 mA−(100 V/110 kΩ)≈1 mA−0.9 mA≈0.1 mA

Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current is 200 mA:0.1 mA=2000:1. (3) When the switching elements T_(A) and T_(B) are turned on and the switching element T_(C) is turned off, the maximal current is 200 mA and the minimal current is acquired as below.

1 mA−(100 V/110 kΩ)−(100 V/2 MΩ)≈1 mA−0.9 mA−0.05 mA≈0.05 mA

Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current is 200 mA:0.05 mA=4000:1. (4) When all of the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C) are turned on, the maximal current is 200 mA and the minimal current is acquired as below.

1 mA−(100 V/110 kΩ)−(100 V/2 MΩ)−(100 V/2.5 MΩ)≈1 mA−0.9 mA−0.05 mA−0.04 mA≈0.01 mA

Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current is 200 mA:0.01 mA=20000:1.

In the above examples of (1) to (4), the desired current ratio (ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current) can be realized by connecting the plural bypass lines in parallel to each other and controlling the combination of turning on and turning off for the switching elements T_(A) to T_(C). For the use with the current ratio fixed at 2000:1, the pattern of (2) is employed. However, in this case, at least the bypass line including the switching element T_(A) only has to be present, and the bypass line including the switching element T_(B) and the bypass line including the switching element T_(C) may be unnecessary.

According to this embodiment, the insertion of the bypassing means 6 b in parallel to the LEDs (1 to 5) enables the current i supplied by the LED driver 4 to be branched to the bypassing means 6 b such that the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target minimal current. Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver 4 and without any malfunctioning of the LED driver 4 because the operation thereof is not discontinued.

Since bypassing means 6 b including a resistance is used and the resistance works as a discharge resistance for an abnormal situation and, therefore, the circuit can be protected and the safety can be secured of the LED lighting device 1 b or the liquid crystal displaying apparatus incorporating therein the LED lighting device 1 b.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an LED lighting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, “1 c” denotes the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device 1 c differs from the LED lighting device 100 described above with reference to FIG. 7 in that the LED lighting device 1 c includes a bypassing means 6 c inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5 and the control circuit 7′ that controls the operation of the bypassing means 6 c. In FIG. 4, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the components depicted in FIG. 7 have the same functions as those thereof. An exemplary operation of the LED lighting device 1 c will briefly be described.

As above, the LED driver 4 receives the dimming control signal to control the dimming duty ratio to the predetermined dimming duty ratio, from the main control portion (not depicted). The LED driver 4 outputs the duty signal based on the dimming duty ratio from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3, and causes the switching power source 3 to generate the voltage V1 corresponding to the dimming duty ratio. The LED driver 4 causes the switching element TR1 (corresponding to the switching means) inserted between the LED circuit 5 and the ground line GND to be driven for switching based on the duty signal, causes the voltage V1 to continuously be applied to the LED circuit 5, and causes the LEDs (1 to 5) to be turned on. The switching element TR1 is composed of, for example, a field effect transistor (FET).

The converter circuit 2 generates the voltage V1 to turn on the LEDs (1 to 5) included in the LED circuit 5 based, for example, on the reference voltage V generated from the power source voltage (+B) such as a battery. Though the converter circuit 2 is configured as a what-is-called step-down converter including the capacitor C, the converter circuit 2 may be of any one of a step-down, a step-up, and a step-up-and-down types.

The LED circuit 5 includes at least one LED. In the depicted example, the LED circuit 5 includes the five LEDs of LEDs (1 to 5). The electric current i acquired by adding the current i_(LED) flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) to the current i_(M) flowing in the bypassing means 6 c is converted from a current into a voltage by the current detection resistor R1 and this voltage is input into the current detection terminal of the LED driver 4. The LED driver 4 outputs the value of the voltage input into the current detection terminal from its feedback output terminal to the converter circuit 2, and causes the converter circuit 2 to drive the LEDs (1 to 5) each with a constant current.

The LED lighting device 1 c of this embodiment includes the LED circuit 5 including the LEDs (1 to 5), the bypassing means 6 c inserted in parallel to the LED circuit 5, and the LED driver 4 that supplies a current to each of the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 c based, for example, on the duty control. When the LED driver 4 causes the predetermined minimal current to flow in the LED circuit 5, the LED driver 4 supplies the current acquired by adding the current caused to flow in the bypassing means 6 c to this minimal current. The current acquired by the addition is controlled by the switching element TR1 connected in series to the LED circuit 5 and the bypassing means 6 c.

The current supplied by the LED driver 4 is branched to the bypassing means 6 c such that the value of the current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target value that is the value of the minimal current acquired when the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) become the predetermined ratio (also referred to as “target ratio”). The target ratio only has to be determined corresponding to the contrast ratio desired to be realized, the specification of the LED, etc., and is not especially limited while the target ratio may be, for example, 2000:1.

In the above, the LED driver 4 controls turning on and off of the switching power source 3 based on the externally-input dimming control signal (the dimming duty ratio), and supplies the current i based on the voltage V1 that corresponds to the dimming duty ratio. The current i is branched at the connection point of the LEDs (1 to 5) and the bypassing means 6 c. The currents i_(LED) and i_(M) respectively flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the bypassing means 6 c. In this example, the case where the LED driver 4 supplies the current based on the duty control is exemplified and described. However, not limited to this duty control, the same control can be executed even in the case, for example, where current control is applied.

An exemplary configuration of the bypassing means 6 c will be described. The bypassing means 6 c is composed of: a semiconductor element such as a field-effect transistor (FET) or, more preferably, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) that is a type of FET; etc. In the example of FIG. 4, the description will be made assuming that the bypassing means 6 c is composed of an FET element T_(M).

Representing the current output from the LED driver 4 as “i”, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) as “i_(LED)”, and a current flowing in the bypassing means 6 c as “i_(M)”, an equation as below holds.

i=i _(LED) i _(M), where i _(M) =gm·V _(GS)  Eq. (3)

“gm” represents trans-conductance and V_(GS) represents the gate-source voltage of the FET element T_(M).

The control circuit 7′ is connected to the FET element T_(M), and controls turning on and off (operation and discontinuation of the operation) of the FET element T_(M) and the gate-source voltage V_(GS) to be applied to the FET element T_(M). For example, when the FET element T_(M) is turned on, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is acquired as i_(LED)=i−i_(M) from Eq. (3). The current i_(M) flowing in the bypassing means 6 c is controlled by the gate-source voltage V_(GS) of the FET element T_(M). When the FET element T_(M) is turned off, the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is i_(LED)=i.

In FIG. 4, the case is assumed, for example, where the target ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) is 2000:1 and the maximal current (the rated current) is 250 mA. In this case, the target value of the minimal current is 0.125 mA. When the minimal current is caused to flow, it is assumed, for example, that control, is executed to turn on the FET element T_(M). When the minimal current is caused to flow, the relation i_(LED)=i−i_(M) holds. As depicted in FIG. 8, as to the performance of the LED driver 4 in this example, the operation thereof is not guaranteed when the dimming duty is equal to or lower than 0.1%, and 0.200 mA is supplied to the LEDs (1 to 5) when the dimming duty is, for example, 0.1%. With this performance of the LED driver 4, the target value of the minimal current that is 0.125 mA cannot be achieved.

Assuming that i and i_(LED) are i=0.200 mA and i_(LED)=0.125 mA in Eq. (3) above, the current i_(M) to be caused to flow in the FET element T_(M) is 0.075 mA. The gate-source voltage V_(GS) necessary for causing this current i_(M) to flow can be acquired based on a control function described with reference to FIG. 6. The voltage V1 is the voltage applied across the FET element T_(M) (and the LED circuit 5) and is known. In this manner, of the current i (=0.200 mA) supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(M) (=0.075 mA) can be branched to the FET element T_(M) by turning on the FET element T_(M) and, thereby, executing the control of the gate-source voltage V_(GS). Therefore, the target minimal current i_(LED) (=0.125 mA) can be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5).

When the maximal current (for example, 250 mA) is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), control is executed to turn off the FET element T_(M). No current flows in the FET element T_(M) and, therefore, the relation i_(LED)=i holds. Therefore, the LED driver 4 only has to supply the maximal current as it is. Thereby, the target maximal current i_(LED) (=250 mA) flows in the LEDs (1 to 5).

When the bypassing means 6 c is composed only of resistors, a current always flows in the bypassing means 6 c. Therefore, even when the maximal current is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), the LED driver 4 needs to supply a current acquired by adding a current to be supplied to the bypassing means 6 c to the maximal current and, the added current is lost. In contrast, in this embodiment, the bypassing means 6 c is composed of the FET element. Therefore, when the maximal current is caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5), no current can be caused to flow in the FET element by turning off the FET element. Thereby, the LED driver 4 only has to supply the maximal current as it is and, therefore, the above loss does not occur.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another example of the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs and the dimming duty. The axis of ordinate therein represents the current flowing in the LEDs (unit: mA) and the axis of abscissa therein represents the dimming duty (%). The graph L1 is the same as that for the traditional case described above with reference to FIG. 8. A graph L2′ shows the correspondence relation between the current flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) and the dimming duty in the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and is acquired by shifting the graph L1 to be lower by the amount of the current i_(M). According to the circuit configuration of this embodiment, as above, of the current i supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(M) can be branched to the FET element T_(M). Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current of the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio (for example, 2000:1).

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of the control function expressing the relation between the gate-source voltage and the current of a semiconductor device. Another example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In this example, for an ordinary state, it is assumed that the maximal current of the current i_(Lm) flowing in the LEDs (1 to 5) is, for example, 200 mA and the minimal current controllable by the LED driver 4 is, for example, 1 mA.

It is also assumed that the target ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current of the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) is 2000:1. In this example, the maximal current is 200 mA and, therefore, the minimal current to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) is 0.1 mA. Therefore, i_(M) is i_(M)=i−i_(LED) from Eq. (3) above and, therefore, the current i_(M) to be caused to flow in the FET element T_(M) is acquired as i_(M)=1 mA−0.1 mA−0.9 mA. The gate-source voltage V_(GS) to realize this i_(M)=0.9 mA can be acquired from the control function of FIG. 6. The gate-source voltage V_(GS) is acquired as V_(GS)=1.4 V for i_(M)=0.9 mA.

The control circuit 7′ applies 1.4 V as the gate-source voltage V_(GS) acquired as above, to the FET element T_(M). Thereby, the current i_(M) of 0.9 mA flows in the FET element T_(M). Of the minimal current i (=1 mA) supplied by the LED driver 4, only the current i_(M) (=0.9 mA) can be branched to the FET element T_(M) and the minimal current i_(LED) (=0.1 mA) can be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5).

As above, the desired current ratio (the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current) such as 2000:1 can be realized by controlling the gate-source voltage of the FET element T_(M).

As above, according to this embodiment, the insertion of the bypassing means 6 c in parallel to the LEDs (1 to 5) enables the current i supplied by the LED driver 4 to be branched to the bypassing means 6 c such that the current i_(LED) to be caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) becomes the target minimal current. Therefore, the ratio of the maximal current to the minimal current caused to flow in the LEDs (1 to 5) can be set to be the target ratio regardless of the performance of the LED driver 4 and without any malfunctioning of the LED driver 4 because the operation thereof is not discontinued.

EXPLANATIONS OF LETTERS OR NUMERALS

-   1 a to 1 c and 100 . . . LED lighting device, 2 . . . converter     circuit, 3 . . . switching power source, 4 . . . LED driver, 5 . . .     LED circuit, 6 a to 6 c . . . bypassing means, and 7 and 7′ . . .     control circuit 

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An LED lighting device comprising: an LED circuit that comprises at least one LED; a bypassing circuit that is inserted in parallel to the LED circuit; and an LED driving circuit that supplies a current to each of the LED circuit and the bypassing circuit, wherein when a predetermined current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the LED driving circuit supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing circuit to the predetermined current, and wherein the current acquired by the addition is controlled by a switching circuit connected in series to the LED circuit.
 14. An LED lighting device comprising: an LED circuit that comprises at least one LED; a bypassing circuit that is inserted in parallel to the LED circuit; and an LED driving circuit that supplies a current to each of the LED circuit and the bypassing circuit, wherein when a predetermined current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the LED driving circuit supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing circuit to the predetermined current, and wherein the current acquired by the addition is controlled by a switching circuit connected in series to the LED circuit and the bypassing circuit.
 15. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein when a predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the LED driving circuit supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing circuit to the predetermined maximal current.
 16. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein the bypassing circuit is a resistor.
 17. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein the bypassing circuit comprises at least one bypass line having therein a resistor and another switching circuit connected in series to each other, and wherein when the predetermined current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the other switching circuit is caused to operate and the LED driving circuit supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing circuit to the predetermined current.
 18. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 17, wherein when a predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the other switching circuit is caused to stop operation and the LED driving circuit supplies the predetermined maximal current.
 19. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 17, wherein the bypassing circuit comprises the plurality of bypass lines connected in parallel to each other.
 20. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein the bypassing circuit comprises a semiconductor element, and wherein when the predetermined current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the semiconductor element is caused to operate and the LED driving circuit supplies a current acquired by adding the current to flow in the bypassing circuit to the predetermined current.
 21. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 20, wherein when the predetermined maximal current is caused to flow in the LED circuit, the semiconductor element is caused to stop operation and the LED driving circuit supplies the predetermined maximal current.
 22. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 20, wherein the semiconductor element is a field-effect transistor, and wherein the current to flow in the bypassing circuit is controlled by controlling a gate-source voltage of the field-effect transistor.
 23. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein the predetermined maximal and the predetermined minimal currents to be caused to flow in the LED circuit have a predetermined ratio.
 24. The LED lighting device as defined in claim 14, wherein the LED driving circuit supplies a current through duty control. 